Comments on: Trade For Johan?

By: jwp

jwp — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 23:58:52 +0000

Somewhere, sometime, I read “Never trade a horse for two ponies.” I think it was when we acquired Lee Smith.
Santana is a horse, and worth many ponies. My main concern is his health. I worry.
I would give one of the four, any one, but no more than one: Bucholz, Lester, Pedroia or Ellsbury, plus 3 anyone else in the minors.

By: Dave B.

Dave B. — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 19:22:58 +0000

I still stand by the idea of seeing what we can get for Manny. The Dodgers have shown interest in the past, like mature players, are looking for an outfielder, and have young players that we should covet. I would do a Kemp for Manny trade straight up anyday of the week.

By: Sean O

Sean O — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 18:37:06 +0000

I’d still rather have a hitter than Santana. For the nth time, we have nothing coming up the pipeline, while we seem to have a new top pitching prospect each week. I want some freaking hitting, so Youk isn’t our power source in 2011.

By: Michael Edelman

Michael Edelman — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 17:38:47 +0000

Chip, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Yankees gave up Joba or Hughes. They’re really in need of a staff ace and if Pettitte retires, the Yankees will be in desperate need of starters, and will be without a lefty.
And with the Yankees losing the division for the first time in many years, and losing their claim of being the elite team of this era, you know the Steinbrenners are looking to make a splash. They’ve done desperate things for Posada, Mo, and A-Rod. Why not Santana?

By: Dan Order

Dan Order — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 17:28:52 +0000

I still wouldn’t do it. The difference between Ellsbury and Crisp is going to improve the Red Sox more than Johan and whoever he replaces in the rotation. There is not a single weak spot in our rotation so why are we seeking to improve it. Meanwhile, we have a little-leaguer playing shortstop and if Ellsbury is dealt it’s as if we have a pitcher in our lineup in Coco Crisp.

By: hynes

hynes — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 15:48:36 +0000

I think with a pitcher like Johan, you always have to inquire. Would I love Johan pitching between Beckett and Dice-K next year? Hell yeah! A Beckett, Santana, Dice-K, Schilling, Buchholz/Lester/Wake rotation would strike fear into any rotation in the majors, let alone the AL. But for the price that the Twins are asking combined with the price Santana will want in a contract extension makes this deal too rich for my blood.
I would look instead to some other players like Haren, Bedard (O’s have said everyone is available and Bedard hates it Baltimore. Andy may not want to deal within the division, but in the end he’s more concerned about a building a contender again) and possibly Matt Garza.
One thing I do like about all of this though, even if the Sox end up doing nothing, is the fact that Theo & Co. are looking to continue to improve themselves. Making yourself that my deeper in a rotation is always a bonus. We may not have the 03-05 offensive power in 08 but we’re not exactly the Dodgers here either. We’re a top 3-5 offensive power with a dominant pitching staff and a great defense. That wins World Series people – not HRs.
So if the price is right, I’m all for it; but I’m also up for adding to this team in other ways and filling in some holes within the bullpen and bench.

By: hynes

hynes — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 04:06:38 +0000

Here’s some more commentary from the Herald’s Tony Massarotti about the possibility of a Santana trade:
“Remember: Two years ago, when the Red Sox were looking for a staff ace, they debated the merits of trading for Josh Beckett or signing A.J. Burnett. Owner John Henry was among those who argued for Burnett, saying he would cost the Sox only a multi-million-dollar contract while allowing the club to protect its prospects. Nonetheless, primarily because of the Bill Lajoie-Craig Shipley tandem empowered by Larry Lucchino during Theo Epstein

By: Bob

Bob — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 04:02:02 +0000

If what Stark said is true about Garza being available for the right young center fielder and being that the Twins are one of the most interested teams in Crisp I’d like to see him in Boston over Santana if the Sox can get it done for Crisp and maybe one mid-level minor league bat like Aaron Bates. He’s cheaper than Santana in terms of prospects and dollars and he’s one of the best young pitchers in the league. The only problem is if the Twins trade Johan theres no sense in trading Garza and the Red Sox don’t really have room for him. Still, if they could pick up Garza and swing him for a bat it would be a genius move.

By: Chip

Chip — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 02:44:42 +0000

And of course by past five years I mean next five years

By: Chip

Chip — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 00:30:10 +0000

As a Yankees fan, I’d love to see the Red Sox give that much up for one pitcher whose arm will probably fall apart in the past five years. In reality, it’s not going to happen. You’re not going to give up Bucholtz just like we’re not giving up Joba or Hughes. In the same token, we’re not giving up Cano anymore than you’d be willing to give up Pedroia.
Everything you hear in the media right now is the Twins trying to lure some idiot GM into giving them twice what Santana is realistically worth. They were able to make it work once (see the Liriano/Nathan trade) so why not? Neither Theo or Cashman is that stupid.
I think in reality Santana will end up with the Dodgers in a deal that will kill their offense for about the next 5 years. If not I could see them giving in to the Yankees offer of Melky/Kennedy or Wang/Tabata or Jackson. I see a package of Lester/Ellsbury and another high-end prospect (I’m not as familiar with your system) possibly equaling that in the Twins’ eyes. But I think there was a stupid move made if any one of Hughes/Cano/Joba/Bucholtz/Pedroia end up in a Twins uniform next year, it’s just not worth it when you have to pay him the big bucks in a year in addition to the players